The
FATE system comprises a full-featured 3D world editor, purpose-built scripting
language, and playback software, all focussed on building 3D interactive
adventure games for hand-held devices.

The FATE Process...

Users of the FATE system follow this basic outline when
developing a new adventure:

Artwork built using external tools

Artwork imported into the FATE Editor

Geometry laid out using the FATE editor

Geometry painted with the imported artwork

Creatures, objects etc. designed, using the Creature Creator
built into the FATE editor

Scripts writen to animate creatures or objects, and to develop
story elements as actual events within the game (this part is the most fun).

Once all this is done, the FATE level is packaged into binary
form by the editor, and then downloaded onto the portable device on which the
user wishes to play the adventure. A fairly small (since all the action is
contained in the file emitted by the editor), optimised executable is run on the
target machine and presents the adventure.

The FATE Editor...

Here's a screen-shot of the FATE world editor, showing the introductory level
of our adventure "The Ominus Project".

The yellow squiggles are the paths along which the viewpoint and various
animated elements move, all performing according to scripts written for the
purpose.

The top-left pane is an isometric view of a space station, shown also in
first-person view at bottom left. The right-hand pane is a plan view of the
space station and shows the approach path followed by the viewpoint.

The icons along the top control drawing of rooms, placement of items and
creatures, drawing of paths for animations, and painting of textures.

FATE Scripts...

Here's a view of the script
editor, showing some of the actual script used in "The Ominus Project".

The first few lines spawn a couple of other threads of execution running
other scripts that control the placement of the viewpoint and the appearance of
other elements in the scenario (in this case, although not illustrated here, the
"MonstersFromTheHole" script generates spacecraft flying around and attacking
the space station pictured in the FATE Editor above).

Further down in the script we see some code that presents text detailing the
introductory story of "The Ominus Project"

See the first three screen shots below for an idea of how this script
translates into visuals.

First, three scenes from the introductory level of "The Ominus Project" shown
being edited above:

Here are a few more shots of the crew quarters within the station. From the
left: Yes, that's Moon Patrol (with apologies to Bally/Midway) and a microwave;
yes that's a toaster; a view out of the windows.